To schedule an appointment to have your child seat inspected or installed call: 205-625-4351

As part of the Oneonta Police Department’s traffic safety education and awareness program, specially trained police officers are available to install and inspect child safety seats. These officers can also provide instruction on the proper use of the seats.

While the first step in protecting child passengers is to have and use a child safety seat, the second step is to ensure the safety seat is properly installed in the vehicle. On average, 90 percent of the child safety seats inspected were improperly installed, were improper for the type of vehicle they were installed in, or were otherwise defective.

Child safety seats that are improperly installed or are excessively worn will not provide a child passenger with the protection they need. Child safety seats vary greatly by type, style and manufacturer. These differences can be so great that a child safety seat that fits properly in one vehicle may not properly fit in another vehicle.

Child safety seat owners must pay attention to safety seat information even after the seat is installed. Child safety seats sometimes are recalled by manufacturers, so safety seat owners should pay attention to all seat recall notices. You can obtain more information by visiting www.cpsalabama.org

Here are some tips for calling 911. Reading these now may help you when an actual emergency occurs.

Remain calm

Be prepared to verify phone number and location

Be brief · Answer all questions

Do not hang up

Be prepared to give descriptions and license numbers

Remember: Answering questions does NOT delay the dispatch of assistance. A dispatcher is sending help your way while the Call Taker takes additional information from you. The more pertinent information you give us, the safer everyone will be.

About 911 hang-ups: Our policy is to respond to ALL 911 hang up calls. If you change your mind about needing assistance, stay on the line and explain that to the 911 Call Taker. Otherwise, an officer will be dispatched to your location to ensure that you are safe. Playing on the phone puts those who do need immediate help in danger and puts you in danger of being prosecuted for making a false report.

Please keep in mind when you are signaled to pull over by an officer that law enforcement can be dangerous work. Do not assume the officer knows that you are a law abiding citizen, officers must be cautious at all times.

When signaled to pull over:

Pull over as far to the right as safely possible. This allows the officer to more safely walk to your car. On a freeway, you may pull over to the left.

Turn off the ignition.

Turn on the interior light if the stop occurs at night.

Place your hands on the steering wheel until the officer can make a safety evaluation as approaching your car.

If you are carrying a weapon, advise the officer of the weapon and the location.

Always follow the officer's instructions.

Stopping at night, especially along a dark stretch of road, can heighten the tension for you and the officer. Officers do not object to a driver proceeding to the nearest well-lit area. Simply acknowledge the officer by turning on your flashers and drive at a reduced speed.

If asked to exit the vehicle, walk to the rear of your vehicle to the side away from traffic, or as directed by the officer. Use the vehicle as a barrier between you and on-coming cars.

The officer will ask for three pieces of information: your driver's license, insurance card and vehicle registration.

Please do not attempt to argue with the officer. This may increase the tension in an already stressful situation. Depending on the reason the officer initiated the traffic stop, you may or may not be given a citation. If you receive a citation, you will be advised of your options in making a disposition of the citation.

Once the traffic stop is finished, walk carefully back to your vehicle watching on-coming traffic. When an opportunity exists, carefully merge back into the flow of traffic.

(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp and audible signal as is required by law, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with regard for the safety of all persons using the highways.

(c) Authorized emergency vehicles shall be equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting a colored light as hereinafter provided visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle and a siren, exhaust whistle or bell capable of giving an audible signal. The color of the lighted lamp exhibited by police vehicles may be red or blue and the color of the lighted lamp exhibited by the fire department and other authorized emergency vehicles, including ambulances, shall be red. No vehicle other than a police vehicle will use a blue light. An amber or yellow light may be installed on any vehicle or class of vehicles designated by the Director of Public Safety, but such light shall serve as a warning or caution light only, and shall not cause other vehicles to yield the right-of-way. This provision shall not operate to relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway nor shall it protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of such right-of-way.

The Oneonta Police Department enforces a Safe Streets Act ordinance. This ordinance, enacted in 1998, requires us to impound any vehicle that is being unlawfully operated by a driver with any of the following:

-No Driver License-Driving with a Suspended Driver License-Driving with a Revoked Driver License-Driving with a License that is Expired by More than 90 Days.

If you were driving a vehicle or own a vehicle that was impounded by the Oneonta Police Department, You will need the following items before your vehicle will be released from impound.

The registered owner and/or lien holder may recover the vehicle by coming to the Oneonta Police Department in person and provide the following:

-VALID DRIVER LICENSE-VEHICLE TITLE (or)-CURRENT TAG RECEIPT-PROOF OF CURRENT INSURANCE

If the registered owner is not a licensed driver, the owner must produce a valid photo identification. In addition, the owner will need to bring (2) licensed drivers with him/her to the Oneonta Police Department before the vehicle can be released. If the registered owner of the vehicle is unable to claim their vehicle in person, the owner will need to send a notarized letter stating that it is ok to release the vehicle and to whom. If you have any questions you may contact the Oneonta Police Department at (205) 625-4351.

(Prices are subject to change without notice.) IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT CLAIMED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF BEING IMPOUNDED, PROCEDURES MAY BE STARTED TO SALE THE VEHICLE AT PUBLIC AUCTION. If you have any questions on how much it will cost to recover your vehicle, you may call the rotation wrecker service that towed your vehicle for an up-to-date-cost. THE ROTATION WRECKER SERVICE WILL NOT RELEASE YOUR VEHICLE WITHOUT A WRITTEN RELEASE FROM THE ONEONTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

The Oneonta Police Reserves is comprised of non-paid community members who volunteer their time to fulfill many of the roles handled by full-time sworn officers. Reserve officers work under the direct supervision of our full time sworn officers. Reserve officers ride along with our officers and offer support during parades, ball games, band festivals and other large events throughout the year. Whether you're looking to get your foot in the door to begin your law enforcement career, or just looking to make your community a better place to live. Our reserve program may be for you.

Requirements for applying to the Oneonta Police Department Reserve Division:

-Must be at least 21 years of age.-Must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.-Must possess a valid Alabama drivers license.-Must have a clean driving history.-Must pass a criminal history check.-Must be a United States citizen.-If you are a male you must have registered with the selective service.

Once the above requirements have been met, you may contact the Oneonta Police Department in person to obtain an application for the reserve program. The application will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete and must be filled out in our office. You will need the following items to complete the application:

-Past 3 employers with dates, addresses and job title.-3 Character references with addresses, phone numbers and years acquainted.-Educational background

The interview and selection process consist of 3 levels:

Level 1After you have submitted an application, your application will be reviewed. If your application is selected as a possible candidate, we will perform the required background investigation and the candidate will be called for an interview with the officer in charge (OIC) of the reserve program.

Level 2Level 2 of the interview and selection process consists of an interview with the Deputy Chief and/or Chief of Police.

Level 3Level 3 of the interview and selection process consists of the physical agility test. Currently the physical agility test mirrors what is required by the police academy. The candidate will be required to complete a 1.5 mile run in 15 minutes and 28 seconds or less. The candidate will also be required to complete a minimum of 20 push-ups and 25 sit-ups within one minute. The candidate will then be required to qualify with a department approved handgun, supplied by the candidate. The candidate will be required to shoot a minimum score of 70% on the APOST course of fire.

Once all levels of the selection process have been completed, an applicant will be accepted into the reserve program. The reserve officer will then be required to attend monthly training meetings. In addition to the monthly training meetings, reserves are required to ride a minimum of 24 hours per month to remain in active standing in the program. Reserves are expected to assist with events such as parades, ball games and any other assignments assigned by the OIC of the reserves. Reserves also are expected to be available for call out due to inclement weather.

Reserves will receive unlimited and ongoing training in use of force, traffic enforcement, disaster response, self defense and many more aspects of law enforcement. While reserves are non-paid/non-merit employees, we feel that the training they receive is invaluable.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone about our reserve program, please call the Oneonta Police Department at (205) 625-4351.

We understand that being involved in a motor vehicle accident is a stressful time. If you have been involved in an accident, You may pick up a copy of your accident report at Oneonta City Hall, 202 3rd Ave. E. Oneonta, AL 35121. Your report should normally be ready after 3 to 5 business days following your accident. In some cases it may take longer for your report to be ready. Please call before you come to ensure that your accident report is complete and ready to be picked up. You can call Oneonta City Hall at: (205) 274-2150.

You are required by law to complete an SR-13 Form for each accident anytime there is property damage greater than $250.00, or any injury regardless of property damage. It should be mailed within 30 days of the accident. Failure to complete and mail the form within 30 days could result in the suspension of your drivers license. If you need an SR-13 form, you may request one when you pick up a copy of the accident report or by coming to the Oneonta Police Department. The SR-13 form should be mailed to:

Oneonta, AL

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Helpful Links

Helpful and informative web sites relating to crime prevention and safety are available on the Internet. We have selected a few of these and have created links on this page so you can easily reach them. Read More

FAQs

Here we have a list of the most frequently asked questions which include traffic tickets, accident reports, impound, and much more Read More